Rooftop tours showcase downtown Rockford, benefit Laurent House

ROCKFORD — There’s no doubt that the middle-aged among us at the Raise the Roof, A Party on Historic Rooftops fundraiser in downtown Rockford on Aug. 24, will be singing a few lyrics from the “Up On The Roof” song The Drifters recorded in 1962.

“I get away from the hustling crowd, and all that rat-race noise down in the street (up on the roof).”

There’s no doubt that the middle-aged among us at the Raise the Roof, A Party on Historic Rooftops fundraiser in downtown Rockford on Aug. 24, will be singing a few lyrics from the “Up On The Roof” song The Drifters recorded in 1962.

Don Bissell and Marge and Kyle Bevers can experience the kind of serenity the song captures daily on the rooftop deck of the more than 150-year-old Richardson Building at State and Wyman streets that they restored. But it will be a $100-a-ticket party time there and at three other historic downtown buildings during the fundraiser.

Food, drinks and tours of the Richardson Building, Prairie Street Brewhouse and buildings that house the Rockford Register Star and Rockford Trust are in store.

The event is presented by the Rockford Area Realtors and benefits the Laurent House, the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Rockford and the only one the famed architect designed to be handicapped accessible. The home on Spring Brook Road will open to the public in June as a museum, and the fundraiser’s proceeds will help pay for roof restoration on the house.

The Raise the Roof event recognizes that “we are on the cusp of a tipping point in downtown Rockford,” Steve Bois, chief executive officer of the Realtors group, said in an email.

“With the new economic development we’ll evidence first-hand through ‘Raise the Roof’ and other projects Friends of Ziock and other downtown developers have in the works, we’re now at the point where we’re turning the corner in downtown Rockford.”

Bois said the business and residential pulse will “uptick” in the next two years as revitalization takes hold. A new downtown sports complex to open in 2016 will add to the resurgence, he said.

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How it works: Attendees walk from Coronado to the Richardson, Rockford Trust and Register Star. Attendees will be split into three groups, with each visiting one building and then moving on to the others. The Rockford Mass Transit District Trolley will shuttle folks to the Prairie Street Brewhouse. An RMTD bus will shuttle folks from the Brewhouse back to their cars until 11 p.m.

The buildings and food providers:

Richardson Building, 112 N. Wyman St. Features of the more than 150-year-old building include a multi-level, 1,500-square-foot rooftop deck, complete with kitchen and rolling bar. There are three loft apartments. Over the years, the building housed newspapers, a mattress factory, shoe store and convenience store. Octane Interlounge will provide food.

Rockford Trust Building, 206-216 W. State St. The original building (1907) was seven stories. In 1924, a four-story addition was built on top of the seven stories. Also in 1924, a 10-story addition behind the building was added. Rockford National Bank was the primary tenant until 1932. Plans for 62 residential units for rent will be reviewed at the fundraiser. Abreo will provide food.

Rockford Register Star News Tower, 99 E. State St. A building commissioned in 1928 by early feminist activist and newspaper magnate Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms. It features an art deco style and was designed to resemble the Chicago Tribune tower. Zammuto’s Drive In and Carry-Out will provide food.

Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St. Once the longtime home of the Peacock Brewery, it was built in 1857. The 9,000-square-foot event space features multiple rooms, a wrap-around dock on the Rock River, residential units and commercial space. Rockford Roasting Co. will provide coffee and sugarjones will provide cupcakes.

Kryptonite will offer drinks and Pig Minds Brewing Co. will provide craft beer at all but the Brewhouse. The Brewhouse will offer its own drinks.